1868 Hong Kong Fire Hillier Street | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

1868 Hong Kong Fire Hillier Street

1868 Hong Kong Fire Hillier Street

Summary from the Hong Kong Daily Press. It was a better source of information than the China Mail but almost impossible to read online:

Both sides of Hillier street burned

The Fire was initially confined to the south side of Jervois street, but the flames soon jumped to the north side. The Steam engine of the HK Fire Insurance company and the 73rd  (?) stopped the flames reaching the waterfront

‘Hong Kong fire extinguisher powder’ was used to stop flames:

4 Houses blown up on  south side of Jervois street which limited the western extent of fire to Cleverly street

The whole block of Jervois, Cleverly, Hillier street burned (with a few Queens Road shop front houses surviving)

The houses on the east side of Hillier street were destroyed, as were a few buildings eastward on Jervois street. More houses on Jervois street were blown up here to stop flames advancing to the east

Detachment from the Pearl (a ship?) bought the powder

18+ people died, one woman and 17 children burned in the house where the fire started

A fight between the bishop of Victoria and a ‘Chinaman’ over a sword. The bishop won

The Picture was probably taken from the roof of a building on south side of Queens Road Central near On Wan Lane

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Tuesday, August 18, 1868
Connections: 

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China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 1.jpg
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 1.jpg, by Herostratus
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 2.jpg
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 2.jpg, by Herostratus
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 3.jpg
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 3.jpg, by Herostratus
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 4.jpg
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 4.jpg, by Herostratus
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 5.jpg
China Mail 1868-08-19 Part 5.jpg, by Herostratus